Fuse cut-out



J. SANDIN FUSE CUT-OUT Oct. 25, 1938.

Filed Sept. 30, 1936 Qui KW mw f NMI AZ,

W//O//f/f/f INVENTOR' Jefa/72e Sai/c7277 @W ATToR Y Patented Oct. 25, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FUSE CUT-GUT Pennsylvania Application September 30,1936, Serial No. 103,319

10 Claims.

This invention concerns circuit opening devices of the type in which a fusible element is used.

It is an object of this invention to enclose the device in a receptacle and to provide the receptacle with a cover, and the cover with an indicator which shall move to an upstanding position away from the cover when the fuse has blown.

It is a further object of this invention to attach the tube carrying the fusible element to the indicator, so that when the indicator has moved to its conspicuous position, it will move the tube away from its cooperating contacts.

It is another object of this invention to provide the upper end of the tube with a contactmaking cap, which shall be disengaged from the stationary contacts when the indicator is in the operative position.

Other objects of the device and details of the proposed construction will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of one form of the device;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof; and

Fig. 3 is a section similar to Fig. 1, but showing only the upper part of a modification of the device.

The device is enclosed in a box-like structure of porcelain or other insulating material I0, having a support I2 bolted thereto and fastened by. any convenient structure to a cross arm or other permanent support, for example, by means of a connector I4. The box I is closed by a cover I6 of molded insulating material, pivoted at the bottom as shown at I1, by means of pins which exjelnd into the side walls of the box, as shown in 'I'he upper portion of the cover contains a arch I9, the upper end of which merges with a projection 20, which contains a hole to receive a\ switch hook for moving the cover to open or closed position. The lower end of the cover contains an inwardly extending arch 22, which surrounds the fuse tube 24. The fuse tube 24 is mounted on the inside of the indicator portion I of the cover and normally lies inside of the cover, the cover having a passage 26 for the movement of such tube to a conspicuous position, as indiof the U is prolonged downward to make con? nections with the connectors 38, which receive conductors coming from outside the box. Branches 39 of the spring 36 enter recesses provided in the side walls of the box I0 and serve to support the contact springs in position.

At the upper end of -the tube 24 a milled head 40 is provided, which is screwed on and electrically connected with the block 34 and serves to fasten the -upper end of the fuse link 42 Within the tube. Any other style of easily rotated head, such as a hexagonal head, may be used at 40.

As shown at 44, the fuse link extends around the edge of the tube at the lower end thereof, and is drawn tightly against the edge. To secure the tube in this position, the end of the fuse link is fastened between a contact plate 46 and the head 48 of a binding post. The screw of the binding post is mounted at 58 in the body of the arch 22. Springs 52 similar in construction to the springs 36, contact with the edges of the plate 46, which is wider than the head 48 of the binding post.

The lower end of the fuse tube 24 is secured to the indicator by a ring 54 inwardly extending `from the indicator I5. The ring 54 is molded integral with the indicator I5 near the lower end thereof and a recess 56 on the side of the arch 22 toward the indicator is provided for the accommodation oi.' the ring 54.

A ring 58 projects from the upper end of the indicator and on its inward extremity is provided with an upwardly extending part 59,v which cooperates with the block 34 for seating the same. The material where the ring 58 joins the indicator I 5 also is shaped to fit the block as shown at 60.

The upper end of the head 40 cooperates with an inwardly extending part 62 to further iix the position of the tube 24. The inwardly extending part 62 is integral with the cover I6.

In they operation of this form of the device, when the fusible section at the upper end of the fuse link 42 melts, the tube 24 is released and the indicator I5 is .no longer held thereby. The spring 30 then acts to move the indicator I5 until it is stopped by contacting with the lower edge of the arch I9. During the outward movement of the indicator I5 the tube 24 moves away from the anchored end 46 of the fuse link 44, thus separating the fused ends of the wire and extending the arc until it goes out. In this position the indicator is much more conspicuous than when flat against the cover and one may readily observe that the fuse has blown. Current is interrupted by the fusion of the link. A further interruption to the circuit is desirable to insure against current being continued if the fusion of the link should carbonize the tube 24 and so render it conductive. Such interruption is secured by the separation of the conducting plate 46 from the contact springs 52. Also rotation of the tube about the pin 28 moves the contact block away from the spring 36 making an additional interruption.

When it has been observed that the fuse has blown, the lineman may insert the hook of a switch stick into the hole in the projection 20 and pull the cover to open position. This movement is about the pivots II and may extend through 180. The cover and indicator are then below the box and are well separated from the conducting contact springs. The lineman can, therefore, handle the cover I6 and the fuse holding tube 24 without danger of shock.

When the indicator I carrying the tube 24, is moved to the dotted position as shown in Fig. l, the head 4D is brought clear ofthe projection 62. The attendant now can loosen the head 40 or even replace the tube with a new one. He will then loosen the binding post head 48, take out the tube 24 and remove the remnants of the link 42 therefrom. He will insert a new link in the fuse tube or will select a new fuse tube with a complete (new) link. The tube 24 is replaced in rings 54 and 58 and the end of the link is fastened between the plate 46 and the head 48 of the binding post.

In this position, the wire is pulled tight against the lower edge of the fuse tube and is secured in place by the binding post. To bring the Wire into this position, the indicator I5 must be moved into its position against the cover. Otherwise, the wire 42 cannot be pulled completely tight around the lower edge of the tube 24 and the arch 22.

When the new tube or the tube with the new link is thus in place, the door is returned to its position by the use of the switch stick. This brings the contact block 34 into contact with the contact spring 36 and the contact plate 46 into contact with the contact spring 52. The circuit is thereby completed.

In the modification of the device illustrated in Fig. 3, the contact block 34 is replaced by a metallic block l0. A screw with a specially shaped head analogous to the head 40, is received into the upper end of the block 'I0 and serves as a binding post to secure the head 44 of the fuse link 42. The block is provided with a contact lug or projection 12 shaped like a bayonet, which is received between the flared end portions of two contact springs 14, which are integral with or connected to the springs 39.

In the operation of this form of the device, the indicator is moved when the fuse link is melted in the way already explained, and moving, it carries the fuse tube 24 and consequently, the block I0 into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3. In this position, the contact lug I2 is separated from the contact springs T4. The cover may be opened and the fuse replaced in the way already described. Then when the indicator has been returned to the plane of the cover and the cover closed, the contact lug 'I2 will again come into contact with the contact springs 14 and the circuit. is closed.

With either modification the cover I0 can be moved manually into the dependent position or returned to the closed position by means of a switch hook in the hole in the projection regardless of the position of the indicator I5 and regardless of whether the fuse link has melted or not. When in the closed position, the modiiication shown in Fig. 3 requires a strong pull on the switch hook to move the lug 'I2 past the ends of the spring 'I4 which come near enough to each other to resiliently retain the lug between them. In the modication shown in Fig. 1, a similar retaining of the cover in closed position is accomplished by the friction of springs 36 against block 34.

Many modiiications will occur to those skilled in the art and I, therefore, do not desire to be limited by the specific illustration and description made therein. The only intentional limitations are those expressly indicated in the claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a fuse cutout, a fuse tube, a container therefor, a fuse link within said fuse tube, a closure for the container, an indicator mounted on the closure for movement relative thereto, means securing the fuse tube to the indicator, spring means tending to move the indicator into a position at an angle to the closure, means controlled by the fusion of the fuse link to hold the indicator against said movement, said means releasing said hold upon fusion of the link whereby the indicator then moves to a conspicuous position.

2. In a fuse cutout, a container, a fuse tube therein, stationary contacts mounted in the container and making connection to said fuse tube, a closure for the container, an indicator mounted on said closure for movement relative thereto, biased to a conspicuous position, the fuse tube being secured to said indicator to move therewith, restraining means controlled by the fuse tube for holding the indicator in inconspicuous position, and the tube in operative relation to said contacts.

3. In a. circuit opener, a box-like container, contacts therein, a closure for said container pivoted thereto remote from one contact, and an indicator pivoted thereon remote from a second of said contacts, a fuse between said contacts secured to said indicator for movement therewith, spring means controlled by said fuse and causing said indicator to move about its pivot when said fuse blows, said movement separating the fuse from said second contact.

4. In a circuit opener, a box-like container, contacts therein, a closure for said container, pivoted thereto remote from one contact, and an indicator pivoted thereon remote from a second of said contacts, a fuse tube between said contacts secured to said indicator, spring means controlled by said fuse tube and causing said indicator to move about its pivot when said fuse blows, said movement separating the fuse tube from said second contact, means for moving the closure about its pivot, and means integral with said fuse tube and cooperating means stationary in the container for normally restraining the closure from movement to open position.

5. In a circuit interrupter, a housing, a door pivotally mounted on said housing, a fuse tube pivotally mounted upon said door, a fusible element within said fuse tube, a pair of spaced contacts within said housing, means cooperating CTI with said fusible element for normally holding said fuse tube in bridging relation with said contacts when said door is in the closed position, and .neans operative upon fusion of said fusible element for rotating said fuse tube about its pivot out of engagement with at least one of said contacts.

6. In a circuit interrupter, a housing, a door pivotally mounted on said housing, a fuse tube pivotally mounted upon said door, a fusible element within said fuse tube, biasing means for rotating said fuse tube about its pivot, means including said fusible element for holding said fuse tube against rotation, and restraining means cooperating with said fuse tube for normally holding said door in the closed position, said restraining means releasing said door to permit free movement thereof upon rotation of said fuse tube following the fusion of said fusible element.

7. In a circuit interrupter, a housing, a door for said housing, a pivotal connection between said door and said housing to enable said door to swing toopen and lclosed positions. a fuse assembly pivotally mounted on said door, said fuse assembly including a fusible element, means biasing said fuse assembly to circuit opening position, said fusible element holding said fuse assembly in circuit closing position against the force of said biasing means, and means cooperating with said fuse assembly for normally maintaining said door in the closed position, said last named means releasing said door to permit unrestricted movement thereof upon movement of said fuse assembly by said biasing means in response to fusion by said fusible element.

8. In a circuit interrupter, a housing, a door for said housing, a pivotal connection between said door and said housing to enable said door to swing to open and closed positions, a fuse tube pivotally mounted on said door, a fusible element within said fuse tube, a contact releasably engaged by said fuse tube and normally holding said door in the closed position, means biasing said fuse tube out of engagement with said contact, said fusible element holding said fuse tube in contacting engagement with said contact against the force of said biasing means, said biasing means being responsive to the fusion of said fusible element to move said fuse tube out of engagement with said contact to enable said door to be moved freely about its pivotal connection to the open position.

9. In a circuit interrupter, a housing, a door for said housing having two parts relatively movable with respect to each other and said housing a fuse tube carried by one of said parts and movable therewith, a fusible element within said fuse tube, a pair of spaced contacts within said housing, means cooperating with said fusible element for normally holding the parts of said door against relative movement with respect to each other and said fuse tube in bridging relation with said contacts when both parts of said door are in the closed position, and means operative upon fusion of said fusible element for moving said one of said parts relative to the other of said parts to cause said fuse tube to be moved out of engagement with at least one of said contacts.

10. In a circuit interruptor, a housing, a. door for said housing having two parts, the first part being removably hinged to said casing, the second part being hinged to said first part, a fuse tube carried by said second part and movable therewith, a fusible element Within said fuse tube, a pair of spacedI contacts within said housing, means including said fusible element for normally holding the first and second parts of said door against relative movement with respect to each other and said fuse tube in bridging relation with said contacts when said door is in the closed position, and biasing means operative upon fusion of said fusible element for moving the second part of said door to a position at an angle with respect to said first part to cause said fuse tube to be disengaged from at least one of said contacts.

JEROME SANDIN. 

